William “Bill” McHenry, president and CEO of Widgeteer, Inc. has been elected to the board of directors of the International Housewares Association (IHA). His three-year term begins October 1, 2023, and ends September 30, 2026.
Also elected new IHA board officers:
- Chairman: Neal Asbury, president and CEO, The Legacy Companies
- Vice Chairman/Chairman Elect: Paul Cosaro, CEO, Picnic TIme Family of Brands
- Treasurer: Michael Otterman, president & CEO, Lodge Cast Iron
All officers will serve one-year terms from October 1, 2023 to September 3, 2024.
Re-appointed for a second three-year term were: Kim Cole, CEO, Gleener, Inc.; Tom McMahon, president, Jura Inc.; Robert Michelson, president and CCO, Bradshaw Home; Keith Mirchandani, founder and CEO, Trend Makers, LLC; Michael Otterman; Luke Peters, president and CEO, NewAir LLC; and Dan Siegel, president, Lifetime Brands.
Retiring from the IHA board is Thomas Nichols, president, Pretika Corporation.
McHenry founded Widgeteer in 2007. Widgeteer is a family-owned, Chicago-area-based manufacturer and importer of kitchen and home products with an emphasis on stylish and cutting-edge design. Prior to starting Widgeteer, McHenry worked for 20 years in sales, marketing and business development with Nestle, 3M and Philips, holding many senior-level sales and marketing positions.
Asbury is president & CEO of The Legacy Companies, founded in 1999. The company manufactures and markets a portfolio of iconic brands that have morphed over time to strengthen their energy and relevance. Products range from kitchen appliances and cold refrigeration to wine essentials, kitchen tools and utensils. Housewares brands include Avanti, Brama, Chef’sChoice, Excalibur, MaxxIce, Omega, Sapphire, VinoTemp, Vinturi, West Bend, Yonanas and Zeroll. Asbury is a strong advocate of entrepreneurship and free enterprise, having written over 400 articles on global trade issues. In 2008, he received the coveted United States National Champion Exporter of the Year Award. He is the host of the Radio America talk show “Neal Asbury’s Made in America,” which is nationally syndicated and broadcast by more than 300 affiliates from coast to coast. His latest book, “Mapping America,” recently released was reviewed and recognized by The New York Times as one of the best visual books of 2021. His upcoming book “Mapping the Holy Land” will be published in early 2024.
Cosaro joined Picnic Time in 2011. As CEO/Captain Picnic, Cosaro says his number one responsibility is to “relentlessly strive to achieve our mission of giving people the opportunity to make lasting memories by spending time with loved ones.” The company, which started in 1982 offering European-styled picnic baskets, has evolved to design and develop an array of picnic, outdoor leisure, indoor entertaining and barware concepts under the brands Onvia, Legacy, Toscana and Picnic Time. Prior to joining Picnic Time, Cosaro worked at Lionsgate Entertainment where he managed partnerships with retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Target, and at Capgemini Consulting, where he was a strategic and transformation consultant for major media and entertainment corporations.
Otterman joined Lodge Cast Iron, the 128-year-old U.S.-based manufacturer of cast iron cookware and cooking accessories, in 2016 as SVP, sales & marketing. He was named as the first non-family CEO in January 2019. Having more than 25 years of experience in the housewares industry, Otterman has worked for several supplier companies beginning with Applica Consumer Products’ Black & Decker Corporation from 1997-2004. Before joining Lodge, he served as vice president, global marketing and merchandising, for The Coleman Co., a division of Jarden Corp., from 2014-2016; vice president, product development, for Dick’s Sporting Goods from 2011-2013; and president of Focus Products Group from 2008-2011.
Also serving on the IHA Board are Glenn DeStefano, president, StoreBound; Scott Felsenthal, CEO, Whitmor, Inc.; Sal Gabbay, CEO, Gibson Homewares; Steve Greenspon, CEO, Honey-Can-Do International LLC and immediate past IHA chairman; Michael Hayes, chief customer officer, Newell Brands; Lisa Knierim, chief development officer, Creative Tops Inc.; Yvette Laugier, IHA chairman emeritus; and Jacob Maurer, CEO, Americas, The Cookware Company.
Serving on the executive committee of the board are Neal Asbury, Paul Cosaro, Scott Felsenthal, Steve Greenspon, Yvette Laugier, Tom McMahon and Mike Otterman.
